Book · 2018
Buy Then Build
by Walker Deibel
Walker Deibel's case that buying an existing profitable business beats starting from scratch, recommended on r/Entrepreneur as the first stop before any acquisition.
What does Reddit think of Buy Then Build?
The ↑91 comment points someone toward bizbuysell.com and calls the book "a great resource" for learning the SBA loan acquisition process. The ↑50 commenter puts it first on a three-resource list (book, HBR guide, Acquiring Minds podcast) and tells readers to spend "months and maybe even a year+" studying Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition before doing anything. That's the honest advice this book unlocks. The ↑22 comment makes the case directly: starting from scratch in an unknown industry is "a great way to burn $1m." The ↑20 commenter pairs it with The E-Myth and The Personal MBA, treating it as the acquisition-specific layer on top of general business literacy. No criticism surfaces across any of the 6 mentions.
Community feedback & reader fit
Themes
- · Entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA)
- · SBA loan financing for small business purchases
- · Due diligence and deal structuring
- · Alternative paths to business ownership
Common praise
- + The ↑91 commenter treats it as the go-to resource for understanding the SBA acquisition process end-to-end.
- + Paired with HBR's Guide to Buying a Small Business and the Acquiring Minds podcast by the ↑50 commenter, suggesting it holds up in specialized company.
- + The ↑28 commenter describes acquisition as "the absolute safest route" in entrepreneurship — and this is the book that explains how.
Common criticism
- − Zero critical takes across all 6 r/Entrepreneur mentions — the data has no dissent to report.
- − The ↑20 commenter notes you also need to know how to run a business before buying one, which implies the book doesn't cover operations — but that's a gap acknowledgment, not a critique.
Who it's for
Read this before you talk to a broker. The ↑50 r/Entrepreneur commenter says to study ETA for a year before doing anything — Buy Then Build is where that study starts. If you're already mid-search-fund or have deal flow, you've likely covered the ground. The ↑20 commenter is clear that it pairs with operations books like The E-Myth; it doesn't replace them. Pair it with the Acquiring Minds podcast and HBR's guide if you're serious.
Mentions over time
Top subreddits
Which Reddit comments matter for Buy Then Build?
Top-upvoted quotes across the subreddits where this book is mentioned. Click through to read the full thread.
“Yes. Go to bizbuysell dot com to find businesses for sale. Save up a down payment and then qualify for an SBA loan to finance the acquisition. The book “Buy then Build” by Walker Deibel goes way more in depth about the process and is a great resource to learn how to do this. Sounds like it can be ve…
“Be very weary of answers here. 1- read Buy then Build 2- read HBR’s Guide to Buying a Small Business 3- Listen to the Acquiring Minds podcast. Every episode. Explore Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) for months and maybe even a year + before doing ANYTHING
“1. If you've had the drive to own your own/operate your own business for a while (not a fleeting desire), then go for it. Within the risk-on world of entrepreneurship, acquiring an existing profitable business is the absolute safest route out there. 2. Recognize that successfully owning/operating a …
“Read: "Buy Then Build" - Walker Deibel Tons of tactical info on buying your first business, including all the different financing avenues.
“Starting from scratch without knowing an industry well is a great way to burn $1m.. You need to thoroughly understand an industry's problems before you can solve them I'd recommend reading this: [](
“Have a read of this: Buy Then Build: How Acquisition... However, you ALSO need to know how to run a business if you have not done so before. I highly recommend reading: - the e myth - the personal mba - 24 assets Also, what is crucia…
Convinced? Pick up Buy Then Build
What else does r/Entrepreneur read?
Other books mentioned in the same sub, ranked. Shared-sub overlap with this title breaks ties.
The E-Myth Revisited
Michael E. Gerber
Michael Gerber's diagnosis: most small business owners don't own a business — they own a job, and they're the worst boss they've ever had.
The Lean Startup
Eric Ries
Eric Ries tells founders to ship a broken version on purpose, collect data, and repeat until the market stops ignoring them.
Never Split the Difference
Chris Voss
A former FBI hostage negotiator teaches the same tactical empathy he used to talk down kidnappers — applied to salary talks, vendor deals, and difficult bosses.
Zero to One
Peter Thiel
Peter Thiel argues that copying what already works produces competition and thin margins, and that building a monopoly is the only business worth starting.
The 4-Hour Workweek
Timothy Ferriss
Tim Ferriss's 2007 case for outsourcing your life and working 4 hours a week has become a meme, but 18 Reddit mentions suggest the Pareto principle chapter still lands.
Shoe Dog
Phil Knight
Phil Knight recounts selling Japanese running shoes out of a car trunk in 1962 and the 26-year scramble to turn that bet into Nike.
Buy Then Build — frequently asked
What does Reddit recommend reading alongside Buy Then Build?+
The ↑50 r/Entrepreneur commenter lists it first, then HBR's Guide to Buying a Small Business, then the Acquiring Minds podcast (every episode). The ↑20 commenter adds The E-Myth, The Personal MBA, and a title called 24 Assets. The consistent advice is to treat Buy Then Build as the entry point to a longer ETA education, not a standalone answer.
Is Buy Then Build actually useful for someone new to acquisitions?+
Yes, that's exactly who r/Entrepreneur recommends it to. The ↑91 commenter points a first-timer toward bizbuysell.com and calls the book the place to learn the process. The ↑24 commenter calls it "tons of tactical info" on financing avenues. Six of 6 mentions come from people steering beginners toward it.
Does Buy Then Build cover SBA loans?+
Yes, according to the ↑91 r/Entrepreneur commenter who specifically cites the SBA loan financing angle as part of what the book covers in depth. The ↑24 commenter mentions "all the different financing avenues" as a selling point. No one disputes this coverage in the 6-mention dataset.
Should I read Buy Then Build if I want to start a business from scratch?+
That depends on why you want to start from scratch. The ↑22 commenter argues that starting in an unknown industry without understanding it first "is a great way to burn $1m" — and the book's premise is that buying an existing profitable business is safer. If you have a specific market insight, this book might just frustrate you. If you're open to alternatives, read it before committing.